Profile of Artist Ed Sirokman
Mountain lion tracks didn’t detour artist Ed Sirokman from creating another masterpiece. Freshly fallen snow covering a mountain stream sparked his inner artist, prompting him to set up his easel deep inside an Evergreen Park. “That’s when I saw fresh mountain lion tracks. But I was so tuned in I kept painting,” smiles Sirokman. “I knew it was crouched somewhere watching me. After that I did start carrying bear spray.”
Not all of Sirokman’s encounters with nature and art are as thrilling, but they do often come with a story to tell. That’s because it doesn’t have to be ideal conditions for Sirokam to explore the outdoors for inspiration. In fact, he prefers braving the elements by foot, bike, snowshoes and even skis to access an ideal painting scene. “Snow, rain, bugs, you name it, and I have painted in it. They all add challenges. I have even used frozen paint while painting in Castle Rock,” says Sirokman.
Painting landscapes with watercolors is Sirokam’s favorite way to splash the palette, but is only one of many mediums he uses to create art. Through oils, pastels, printmaking and sculpting with marble from Marble, CO, Sirokman enjoys exploring different techniques. This is proven by the hundreds of paintings and prints stacked in a spare bedroom in his Englewood apartment.
Sirokman sometimes wonders how his life as an artist would be shaped differently had he taken advantage of art scholarships offered after he graduated high school. Taking a different route, he studied at Metro State for 2 years and then took a job working for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier. Over the next 34 years, he navigated the streets of a Cherry Hills neighborhood dropping off mail along his route. But come night, he turned his focus to art.
By taking classes at the Arts Student League of Denver, painting with Plein Air Artists Colorado, or even selling his work at art markets, he manages to keep his passion alive. “There’s a part of me that was afraid art would become a chore if I made it my job. I think I have lost my creativity, says Sirokman. “This way I don’t have to worry about filling orders or paining for a specific market.”
Sirokman says he wouldn’t change a thing about his journey as an artist because his experiences brush uniqueness and character on the canvas. “You don’t have to let your passion go even if it isn’t your main job,” says Sirokam. “Plus I was never a starving artist.”
